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Connecticut House Bill HB05398
Connecticut 2026 Regular Session
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Connecticut 2026 Regular Session

Connecticut House Bill HB05398

Introduced
2/26/26  

Caption

An Act Concerning The Review Of Health Care Entity Transactions, The Expansion Of Equitable Relief And Enforcement Tools Available Under The Connecticut Antitrust Act And The Inclusion Of Additional Information In Hospital Pricemaster Filings.

Impact

If enacted, the bill would modernize existing state laws regarding the health care sector by necessitating stricter oversight of mergers and affiliations between health care entities. Specifically, it sets a framework for the Attorney General to scrutinize transactions that could lead to anti-competitive behaviors, ensuring that any substantial changes in the market dynamics do not adversely affect patients' access to healthcare services. Additionally, the bill mandates that all hospitals file detailed information about their pricing practices, thereby increasing accountability and consumer protection.

Summary

House Bill 05398 aims to enhance the regulation of health care entity transactions by expanding the enforcement tools available under the Connecticut Antitrust Act. It also seeks to improve transparency in hospital billing practices through the establishment of comprehensive 'pricemaster' filings. The legislation requires hospitals to provide detailed billing explanations to patients and includes penalties for discrepancies in billing practices, thereby ensuring hospitals adhere to their publicized pricing structures.

Contention

Notable points of contention surrounding HB 05398 include concerns over the breadth of the regulations and the potential burden they might place on smaller health care providers. Opponents argue that the compliance costs associated with detailed reporting could disproportionately impact smaller hospitals and lead to unintended consequences on patient care services. Furthermore, there are fears that the stringent review processes may stifle beneficial mergers aimed at improving service delivery, contrasting the bill’s intent to foster competition in the healthcare sector.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

CT HB07072

An Act Concerning Equitable Relief And Enforcement Tools Available Under The Connecticut Antitrust Act.

CT HB06873

An Act Strengthening The Review Of Health Care Entity Transactions.

CT SB00007

An Act Concerning Protections For Access To Health Care And The Equitable Delivery Of Health Care Services In The State.

CT HB05592

An Act Concerning Revisions To The Connecticut Antitrust Act To Protect Against Corporate Mergers That Harm Competition And Consumers.

CT HB07224

An Act Expanding Liability Under The False Claims Act For Entities With An Ownership Interest And Prohibiting The Licensing Of Hospitals With Certain Lease Back Arrangements.

CT HB08001

An Act Concerning The University Of Connecticut Health Center Joint Venture Initiative.

CT SB01524

An Act Concerning The Inclusion Of Employees Of The Connecticut Association Of Schools In The Teachers' Retirement System.

CT SB01331

An Act Concerning The Exclusion Of Patient Health Information And Opt-in And Opt-out Procedures Relating To The State-wide Health Information Exchange.

CT HB07277

An Act Concerning The Provision Of Special Education In Connecticut.

CT HB07183

An Act Concerning The Regulation Of Long-term Care Insurance, Reports Concerning Such Insurance And A Limited Performance Audit Of The Connecticut Partnership For Long-term Care.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.